Distracted by the scenery

The thing is, there wasn’t a whole lot new to write about yesterday — saving that curling tournament result for the print edition — and it came down to a choice between blogging and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to drive to Lake Louise. The drive won.

Today, however, there’s something to write about.

Like Grier and McLaren and Roenick skipped today’s practice with various ailments (groin, chest contusions, knee, in that order). All three did take part in Tuesday’s curling event, if that helps you get a sense of how bad the injuries are, and their coach says they’re day-to-day now through Friday’s game against the Red Wings.

One more injury matter. I noticed all the interest in Devin Setoguchi’s whereabouts and checked. He did tweak that same problematic ankle in his first game with Worcester. That meant additional rest, but Sharks Asst. GM Wayne Thomas said Setoguchi is expected to see game action again this weekend.

Practice was at the Banff Recreation Centre rink and it turns out Ryan Smyth played there when he was a kid so there’s a nice little display tribute to him and his older brother, Kevin, who had 58 NHL games with Hartford in an otherwise minor-league career. About 100 people showed up to watch the Sharks skate, many of them little kids who lined every passageway in the building looking for autographs and whatever they could cajole a player to throw their way. One had the gall to ask Evgeni Nabokov for a stick — and got one. Smart kid, eh?

Leftover stuff from Calgary: Much talk radio consternation the next morning about everything from the Flames’ disallowed goal to the ref’s whistle after Roenick was crunched into the boards by Regher to Keenan’s decision to yank Kipper. Again, you know you’re in Canada when that kind of stuff dominates the airwaves.

And, one more Owen Nolan note: Everyone, Nolan included, agrees that he’s mellowed considerably since his days as the intense, fiery Sharks captain. Everyone, Nolan inlcuded, says that’s what happens when you have kids.

Still, the fire still burns on the ice. That fight he had Saturday night was against an Oiler player 13 years younger and 25 pounds heavier than Nolan.

Back to the present.

Sharks staying here overnight, then flying to Detroit tomorrow. I’m on the road back to Calgary momentarily for an early morning flight that, with a stopover in Chicago, may or may not get me to their practice at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Will let you know how that works out later.

You know, upon further review, why save that curling tournament result for tomorrow’s paper. This is the news business, after all: The coaches won.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.